The Minnesota baseball team (4-7) dropped its second game in a row to Pacific (4-12) 3-1 at Klein Family Field on Saturday, Mar. 15.
Minnesota junior starter Kyle Carr (Linton, N.D.) gave the Golden Gophers a strong outing, as he pitched a career-high 6.1 innings, gave up three hits, two runs, walked three and struck out six batters. Carr suffered the tough-luck loss to fall to 0-3 on the season. Freshman Seth Rosin (Shoreview, Minn.) pitched 1.2 innings of relief, gave up two hits, one run and struck out three batters.
Pacific starter Mark McCain pitched a complete game, as he gave up four hits, one run and struck out 15 batters. The 15 strikeouts were the most by an opposing starter against Minnesota this year.
Senior Jeff Engel (Minnetonka, Minn.) was the only player in the game to have multiple hits, as he went 2-for-3 and scored the Golden Gophers' only run. Jeff DeSmidt (Mathomedi, Minn.) reached base twice, and was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Derek McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) was also 1-for-4 with a double.
Minnesota got on the board first in the top of the third inning. Engel led off the inning with a single to center field, and came around to score on an RBI double by DeSmidt to put the Golden Gophers up 1-0. McCain got out of the inning without any further damage by striking out the next three batters.
In the top of the fifth, Minnesota had a chance to add to its lead when it loaded the bases. Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk, Engel moved him to second on a bunt single and DeSmidt was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, for the second time in three innings McCain struck out three batters in a row to get out of a jam as the Golden Gophers left the bases loaded.
Pacific took its first lead of the game at 2-1 with a pair or runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Nick Longmire started the inning by breaking up Carr's no-hitter with a single up the middle. Two batters later, John Joines deposited a home run over the left field fence to give the Tigers the 2-1 lead.
Minnesota got a leadoff double by McCallum in the top of the sixth, but the Golden Gophers were unable to capitalize as McCain retired the final three batters and stranded McCallum at second.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Kerry Jenkins led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Ching. Michael McKeever brought home Jenkins on a two-out RBI single to put Pacific ahead 3-1.
Minnesota will be back in action on Sunday, Mar. 16 at 3 p.m. (CT). That game can be heard on gophersports.com and on KLBB (1220 AM).
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